Introduction: Cook/Peel an Egg Easier and Faster

Step 1: Step 1

Step 2: Step 2

Tips:
-Add Salt to the water
-Put the egg in the water sideways so the yolk will stay in the middle and put the heat to a maximum
-Try to put at least 1inch of water higher than the egg
- After the water boils wait 2more minutes for soft boiled egg and 4 minutes for hard boiled egg
OR
-Turn the heat off and leave the egg for 10minutes

Comments

I find that boiling your eggs gets you rubbery whites and dry yolks (yeech). Sure, easy to peel, but not as good. Ease of peeling is in inverse proportion with good eggs, unfortunately.

I like my eggs "sous vide" (I know, not vacuum sealed, but using the general technique of precise low temperature control), cooked at precisely 65 Celsius for an hour.But if you want pretty good eggs:Put the eggs with plenty of water (at least an inch over the top). Heat the water until it boils, the moment it does so (or actually a bit before if you can manage it) turn off the heat and leave the eggs for another 10 minutes.

Store your eggs sideways so that the yolk stays in the middle. If you want to ensure the yolk is in the middle rotate them as they cook.

Older eggs (not old enough that they expire though) are a bit easier to peel.

Proteins in eggs denature (change form) at different temperatures, at 100 Celsius (boiling) you end up with rubbery whites and dry yolks (and can get some sulfurous odor and green/gray yolks!), so you don't want them at that temperature very long. Cooking is a function of time, but much more of temperature. Take a look at the egg chart in this document: http://www.cookingissues.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/eggchart2.jpg

Actually, the salt raises the boiling point of the water, cooking the egg faster due to higher heat. Additionally, the smaller volume of water means that more heat transfer is being done by the holding container (pot), boiling the water more quickly. Overall, these are the largest factors in cooking the egg faster.

As for the shell being harder, less overall time in the water (while waiting to come to a boil) means less effect on the shell, hence it is "harder".